Clegg: These local elections won't be as bad as last time

Nick Clegg is in an upbeat mood ahead of this week's local elections, as he insists that Liberal Democrats are "getting a hearing".

Many analysts believe the party will face a severe drubbing this Thursday, with some polls showing the party falling below Ukip into fourth place.

But the deputy prime minister used a BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast interview to claim the party might escape the results it faced last year, when voters made their view on the junior coalition partner clear.

"I actually find that there is a different mood compared to last year," he said.